Short was at the Katy Trail Ice House — a popular bar in Dallas — for around 4 hours and was drinking a lot. An eyewitness says Columbus got up and it looked like he was leaving without paying the tab. A security guard started talking to him and Columbus started screaming.

We’re told Columbus accused the guard of racism, but the guard fired back, he was also black. A scuffle between the 2 ensued.

We’re told several off duty Dallas cops — who work at the bar on weekends — broke up the fight but the fired “Scandal” star was still hotter than fish grease.

We’re told Columbus started screaming at the cops and tried attacking them. As one source at the bar put it, “He was like a dog with a bone who wouldn’t let it go.”

The cops then did what cops do — they arrested Short, but not for assault … for public intoxication.